Paperboard basket



July 6, 1937. P. J. BROOKS PAPERBOARD BASKET Filed Aug."2l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffavenzr PczuZ J firoo/i'b Patented July 6, 1937 PATENT OFFICE 2,086,209 7 PAPERBOARD BASKET Paul J. Brooks, Lakewood, 'Oh'io, assignor to The Hankins Container Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 21, 1936, Serial No. 97,156

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to paperboard containers and more particularly to a container of basket form to be made from corrugated paperboard or similar material. Among the objects of the invention are to provide a basket having a relatively rigid construction, easy to manufacture, to give it good stacking qualities, and one which is quick to set up, requiring a minimum number of fastening devices, and being particularly adapted for use in the packing of delicate fruits'and vegetables such as tomatoes and similar produce. Additional objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a basket made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank in unfolded condition;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a basket made in accordance with a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the blank for the modified form of basket.

Referring in detail to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the basket comprises a body member 5 and handle 5 which latter may be of conventional form comprising a fiat strip of wood bent into U-shape.

The body member 5 is preferably formed from a blank of double-face corrugated paper board or similar yieldable or compressible material cut and scored to provide a bottom 1, side walls 8, 8 and end walls 9, 9, hinged to the bottom and defined therefrom and from each other by the score lines indicated. SeeFig. 2.

The side walls in the set-up form of the basket are preferably of at least double thickness substantially throughout and for this purpose side wall extension flaps l0, 10 are provided which are adapted to be bent down against the inner faces of the side walls when the basket is set up.

The end walls 9, 9, and the flap extensions I0, l0, preferably carry end flaps thereon indicated at II, II, and l2, l2, respectively. Flaps H, H are first folded against the side walls 8 when the walls a and a are brought thereover.

This arrangement retains the walls 9, 9 securely in upright position. The flaps l2, I2 are folded to lie against the adjacent end wall 9 and are preferably of such length as to meet .at the central part of the end wall. The presence of 5 the flaps II, II in between the side walls 8 and extension flaps l0 make a basket wall of triple thickness along the portions of the side walls adjacent the ends of the basket.

For the purpose of retaining the side wall flap extensions ID, ID in firm contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls additional extension flaps l3, l3 are provided. These flap extensions are preferably formed so that their outer edges engage each other along a line centrally of the bottom of the basket. When the flaps l3, l3 are in this position it is apparent that the lower edges of the wall extensions l0, Ill will be forced into firm contact with the walls 8, 8, and fiaps II, II, thus causing the entire surface of the extensions I I], In to lie closely against their attached walls. It is to be noted that, in this form of the invention, the bottom, side and end walls are of multiple thickness throughout, thus making a very sturdy and durable form of basket capable of withstanding a large amount of hard usage.

It is to be further noted that the fiaps H, H lying between the outer side wall panel 8 and inner flap extension or panel ill will cause these panels to remain slightly out of contact between the adjacent edges of the flaps II, II over the central part of the side wall.

Recesses are provided in the inner faces of the side walls to receive the lower end portions of'the handle so that the inner surface of the handle will not project substantially beyond the plane of the inner surface of the side wall to which it'is to :be secured. For this purpose, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, slits l4, I4 are cut in the side wall extension flaps ii), iii from the upper edge thereof to substantially the lower edge thereof.

The slits thus formed in the inner side wall panels l0, I0 permit the .portion 15 between the slits to move outwardly into contact with the outer panel8. This movement of .strip l5 between slits l4, 14, is caused by the handle ends when fastened to the side walls, due in part to the natural tendency of the handle ends to spring outward in the event the handle, when formed, has the ends thereof somewhat flaring outwardly, and due in part to the fact that when the handle ends are stapled on to the side walls, the staples grip the handle and secure it to the outer side wall panel which, having the greater rigidity, will cause the strip IE to be drawn out of the plane of the inner panel [0 and lie firmly against the inner face of the outer side Wall panel 8.

In order to increase the depth of the recess formed by slitting flaps l0, Ill and particularly to provide for a sufficient depth of recess at the upper and lower ends of the strip l2 to adequately accommodate the basket handle, the material of the strip I5 is preferably somewhat compressed as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. The degree of compression in the strip lying between the slits Hi, i4 is preferably such that the inner surface of the handle will not project substantially beyond the plane of the inner face'of the basket. In other words, the inner surfaces of the end portions of the handle will be either substantially flush with the face of flap extensions [0, l0 or they may be somewhat set back from' such surfaces so that any roughness or sharp projections on the handle or due to the staples securing the handle to the side walls will be out of contact with the fragile surfaces of any fruit, vegetables or similar produce that may be packed within the basket.

The handle 6 is conveniently assembled with the basket by placing the end portions of the handle within the recesses formed in the side walls and then inserting fastening devices, such as staples l6, l5, thereth'rough. It is to be noted that the staples pass through the handle and through two thicknesses of corrugated paperboard, that is, through the outer side wall panel 8 and the strip l5 in the inner extension fiap II].

In the modified form of the invention, illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, the basket is designated as a whole at 25 and the handle 26.

The blank shown in Fig. 9 is generally similar to the blank shown in Fig. 2 in that it provides a bottom 21, side walls 28, 28, and end walls 29, 29. The side walls have extension fiaps 30, 30 thereon which are adapted to be folded down against the inner faces of the side walls when the basket is set Flap extensions 3!, 3| are provided on end walls 29, 29, and flap extensions 32,32 are provided on the ends of the side wall flaps 30, 30. In setting up the basket these flaps 32, 32 are disposed in a manner similar to the equivalent flaps in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. t r

In this form of the invention no extensions are provided on the side edges of extension flaps 30, 30, as in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. The bottom of the basket is thus formed from a single layer of material, namely, the panel 2'1. The elimination of flaps equivalent to flaps l5, l5 of the first described form makes forgreater economy of basket construction since the blank is shortened. l

As in the form first described, recesses are provided in the extension flaps 30, 30, to receive the lower end portions of the handle 26. In the present instance these recesses are formed by compressing an area, or strip 33, in the extension fiaps 30, 30, having a width sufficient to adequately accommodate the handle ends. This compressed area preferably extends from theupper edge of the side wall substantially 'to the bottom of the basket. In any event, the compressed area should extend downward from adjacent the upper edge of the basket a distance equal to the length of the portion of the handle and bearing against the side wall.

Thus, if the ends of the handle terminate above the bottom of the basket it is only necessary to compress the extension flaps 30, 38 over an area commensurate with the area covered by the handle ends.

In order to facilitate imbedding of the lower portions of the handle 'w ithi-n the inside faces of the basket sides, the depth'ofth'e' recess is preferably increased beginning from a point spaced from the lower edge of extension flap 30 to the upper edge thereof. This is accomplished by forming slits 34, 34 at the edges of the compressed area, these slits extending from adjacent the upper edge of the basket side wall down to a point relatively close to but spaced from the lower edge thereof so as to leave sufiicient material at this point to retain the lower edges of the flap extensions 30, 36 in fixed position with respect to the side wall panels 28, 28. If it were not for this unslit portion the fiap extensions 30, 30 would each be divided into two sections, each free to swing relatively to the other with the consequent disadvantage thateither section might become displaced andswing into the interior of the basket where it would interfere with proper utilization of the. basket. V

It is to benoted that the strip lying between the slits 34, 34, permits this strip to lie fiat against the outer panel 28 when theqhandle 26 is secured to the side walls by means of staples. Due to the slits, the portionsrof theinner panels .30, 30 adjacent the compressed strips 33 .are permitted to retain their normal position in which the panel 30, and panel '28 are'slightly separated due to the presenceof fiaps 3 I, 3| between them and this position is maintained even after the handle is secured in place.

From the foregoing apparentthat the:.,:

fruits or vegetables are gathered. It is only neeessary to provide a small stapling machine to assemble the basket ready for use.

Due to the provision of recesses in, the side Walls formed by compressing portions of the corrugated board from which the basket is madefi the handles are retained substantially out of contact with the fruit carried by the basket and, at the same time, there is no substantial weakening of the walls of the basket at the points where the handle is attached. 5

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention; certain changes may be made in the construction without departing from'the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that thepresentpembodiment be considered in all respects-as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to. the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description toindicate the scope of the invention. i

I claim:

1. A corrugated board basket comprising, a bottom,-end walls and side walls, a narrow, vertically disposed, compressed-portion formed centrally on the inner faceof .thepsidewall and.ex-" 75 tending from substantially the upper edge of the side wall to the bottom of the basket, whereby the end portions of a U-shaped handle of flat strip material may be received in the recesses thus formed.

2. A corrugated board basket comprising, a bottom, end walls and side walls, each of the side walls having an extension on its upper edge which is folded down against the inner surface of the side wall to form an inner side wall panel, a narrow, vertically disposed, compressed portion formed centrally of the inner side wall panel and extending from substantially the upper edge of the side wall to the bottom of the basket, wherebythe end portions of a U-shaped handle of flat strip material may be received in the recesses thus formed.

3. A corrugated board basket comprising, a

bottom, end walls and side walls, each of the side walls having an extension on its upper edge which is folded down against the inner surface of the side wall to form an inner side wall panel, a narrow, vertically disposed, compressed portion formed centrally of the inner side wall panel and extending from substantially the upper edge of the side wall to the bottom of the basket whereby the end portions of a U-shaped handle of flat strip material may be received in the recess thus formed, the inner side wall panel having slits formed therein at the edges of the compressed portions to facilitate imbedding of the handle ends in the basket side walls.

4. A basket formed of yieldable paperboard, said basket having a bottom, side walls and end walls, an extension flap on each side wall adapted to be folded in to lie approximately parallel to the side wall, whereby inner and outer side wall panels are provided, means normally maintaining the inner and outer side wall panels in a somewhat separated relation, a handle for the basket comprising a strip of fiat material of inverted U-shape, means for providing a recess in the side walls to receive the lower end portions of the handle, said means comprising slits formed in each inner side wall panel along each edge of the handle, whereby a strip is formed that is said basket having a bottom, side walls and end walls, an extension flap on each side wall adapted to be folded in and terminating adjacent the bottom of the basket, whereby inner and outer side wall panels are provided, corner flaps on the end walls adapted to be folded in to lie between the inner and outer side wall panels, a handle for the basket comprising a strip of fiat material of inverted U-shape, means for providing recesses in the side walls to receive the lower end portions of the handle, said means comprising slits formed in each inner side wall panel along each edge of the handle, whereby a strip is formed that is adapted to be deflected out of the'plane of the inner side wall panel when the handle and said strip are secured to the outer side wall panel.

6. A basket formed of yieldable paperboard, said basket having a bottom, side walls and end Walls, an extension flap on each side Wall adapted to be folded in and terminating adjacent the bottom of the basket, whereby inner and outer side wall panels are provided, corner flaps on the end walls adapted to be foldedin to lie between the inner and outer'side wall panels, a handle for the basket comprising a strip of flat material of inverted U-shape, means for providing recesses in the side Walls to receive the lower end portions of the handle, said means comprising slits formed in each inner side wall panel along each edge of the handle, whereby a strip is formed that is adapted to be deflected out of the plane of the inner side wall panel when the handle and said strip are secured to the outer side wall panel, said slits terminating at points spaced above the lower edge of the inner side wall panel whereby an unslit portion will be provided which is covered by the handle ends and serves to retain the inner side wall panel in fixed relation to the outer side wall panel. I

Z. A basket formed of yieldable paperboard, said basket having a bottom, side walls and end Walls, an extension flap on each side Wall adapted to be folded in and terminating adjacent the bottom of the basket, whereby inner and outer side wall panels are provided, corner flaps on the end walls adapted to be folded in to lie between the inner and outer side wall panels, a handle for the basket comprising a strip of flat material of inverted U-shape, means for providing recesses in the side walls to receive the lower end portions of the handle, said means comprising slits formed in each inner side wall panel along each edge of the handle, whereby a strip is formed that is adapted to be deflected out of the plane of the inner side wall panel when the handle and said strip are secured to the outer side wall panel, said strip beneath the end portions of the handle being compressed to facilitate imbedding of the handle within the attached side wall.

PAUL J. BROOKS. 

